Kent Station
A new City Waterfront with Quayside Marina is proposed in this urban regeneration project on a 15 acres, neglected brownfield site at the heart of the City.

The site includes the existing Kent Station, the principle Station for Cork City and .75 kilometre frontage on to the River Lee at Horgan Quay. A major transport interchange is proposed with a new Station, 80,000m

The Riverside Walk sketch looks very good, nice mix of building styles and sizes. The first image, IMO, isn’t at all appealing. A long row of bland, similarly high apartment blocks.

I have to agree wholeheartedly with this paragraph:
“Building heights are another issue – in my personal view, a limit on heights should perhaps be adhered to in the interests of protecting Northern Ridge perspectives (vital to the character of Cork and its topography), however this does not exclude the option of taller landmark buildings (provided strong and characteristic design standards) and designated, well-spaced locations.”

I’m not impressed at all by that proposal. The finish on the buildings looks cheap. The arcade areas need to be higher to let in more light so that they don’t become intimidating. It reminds me of a lot of the buildings that were put up in Rotterdam that we were told were futuristic, but which the city is now desperately trying to remove because they have provided an area in which anti-social behaviour can flourish.

This site presents an opportunity to define a whole new quarter for the city and cheap is not the way we want that quarter to go.

This site presents an opportunity to define a whole new quarter for the city and cheap is not the way we want that quarter to go.

Its a moot point anyway Jungle, the â‚¬25m to move the station to face the quays was promised in 2005 and given they are spending â‚¬4m on a lick of paint and a few shops on the barn that it is instead of the entire redevelopment, there wont be any new station any time soon

i agree with you that cheap isnt the way to go but its the developers who will be paying out. Council needs to be strong in terms of putting a design precedent on the area. City architect loves Victoria Mills though. Scary.

Its a moot point anyway Jungle, the â‚¬25m to move the station to face the quays was promised in 2005 and given they are spending â‚¬4m on a lick of paint and a few shops on the barn that it is instead of the entire redevelopment, there wont be any new station any time soon

The Examiner Article posted above suggested that IE will be applying for planning for their element of the station development later on this year. Not sure what credence to lend to that, its been announced before and this is an election year after all. Still, I’d prefer if they took their time with the Station element and got it right. This is a hugely important development, doubt if â‚¬25m would go even halfway to do what is required – much better if they took another year and did it properly. The design of the plaza and new ‘front’ to the station, and the manner in which other public transport modes are integrated is going to be critical, not just for the ‘urban space’ involved, but also to the long term success of commuter rail in Cork.

The â‚¬4m update is really just a clean up – just to keep the place in reasonable nick and to keep the retailers happy – it will be nearly 2 years before work begins on any station re-orientation in any best case scenario.

The design of the plaza and new ‘front’ to the station, and the manner in which other public transport modes are integrated is going to be critical, not just for the ‘urban space’ involved, but also to the long term success of commuter rail in Cork.

The â‚¬4m update is really just a clean up

I wholeheartedly agree with you, the station will need to be ultra modern and german-like in efficiency (this is CIE though) so they shoud take their time however, It has been suggested as being redeveloped for years therefore they have already had the time to think it over and plan it. The money was suggested in 2005 so planning application should have been initiated then and it should be built now.

as for â‚¬4m tidy up – a complete waste of money if they are going to redevelop it all again.

Leesider, it was reported that Irish Rail were going to lodge a planning application shortly for the station project (basically building a new station building to the south but using the existing platforms and with a public plaza/bus interchange in front). Whether or not it will happen is a different question, of course.

Are there any other images of the Horgans Quay Development? Leaving aside the 24 and 20 storey elements, what’s the rest like?

Manor Park are appealing the City Council refusal on Kent Station/Horgan’s Quay. Will ABP back the Local Authority and the NDLAP?

At a meeting with Councillors on this issue, City Manager advised that; â€œMPH have appealed to ABP but city planners feel that we have a solid case with regard the reasons for refusal and the contents of the City Development Planâ€, Mr. Gavin went on to say that; â€œthe fact that MPH is now on the market should have some bearing on the matterâ€
He does not see ABP going against the city planners on this appeal.

At a meeting with Councillors on this issue, City Manager advised that]

I just cant believe MPH have the audacity to appeal this one, given the vociferous and lengthy reasons for refusal laid out by the planners. I imagine ABP wouldnt be thrilled at J Gavin hinting at them but I’m sure he is just speculating on their behalf. ABP might come down even harder on MPH.

I’d like to know if any of the taxpayers money is being involved in all this given that CIE are lurking in the back somewhere.

Eh quite simple really, it’s cheaper to appeal than redesign the scheme and the board can ask for revisions to the scheme and eventually pass it without it going back to the council.

well fingers crossed then that the Bord take the same attitude as the planners and ensure that Kent station is redesigned and construction started at the same time as whatever apartment scheme they apply for – I think the planners were content to have some building on that site once the development of Kent station was happening alongside it, i.e. redevelop the whole site at the same time

well fingers crossed then that the Bord take the same attitude as the planners and ensure that Kent station is redesigned and construction started at the same time as whatever apartment scheme they apply for – I think the planners were content to have some building on that site once the development of Kent station was happening alongside it, i.e. redevelop the whole site at the same time

CIE have just pumped (or should I say squandered) 4 million into Kent station it is going to be years before they do anything more. we are going to be waiting a very long time if both of them are going to be redeveloped together!!